A traditional soda bread, Spotted Dog is delicious warm from the oven, and day-old bread is great toasted with lots of melting butter and a cup of Irish breakfast tea.

Ingredients

3 1/2cups all-purpose flour

1teaspoon baking soda

2tablespoons sugar

1pinch salt

1/3cup raisins or dried cranberries

1 3/4cups buttermilk

Instructions

Preheat oven to 425F.

Combine flour, baking soda, sugar, salt and raisins in a large bowl. Slowly add buttermilk and mix until well combined. (Dough will be wet.) Turn dough out onto a floured board and form into a round (about 8-inch diameter). Make a cross in the dough by lightly cutting through about a half-inch depth across the dough in both directions. (This is said to “let the fairies out,” but really it aids in even baking.)